1 Timothy 3:11

1 Timothy 3:11 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)Even so must their wives be grave, not slanderers, sober, faithful in all things.
• New International Version (NIV)In the same way, the women are to be worthy of respect, not malicious talkers but temperate and trustworthy in everything.
• English Standard Version (ESV)Their wives likewise must be dignified, not slanderers, but sober-minded, faithful in all things.
• New King James Version (NKJV)Likewise, their wives must be reverent, not slanderers, temperate, faithful in all things.

Context of 1 Timothy 3:11

9They must hold to the mystery of the faith with a clear conscience. 10Additionally, they must first be tested. Then, if they are above reproach, let them serve as deacons. In the same way, the women must be dignified, not slanderers, but temperate and faithful in all things. 12A deacon must be the husband of but one wife, a good manager of his children and of his own household. 13For those who have served well as deacons acquire for themselves a high standing and great confidence in the faith that is in Christ Jesus.

1 Timothy 3:11 word by word

Γυναῖκας ὡσαύτως σεμνάς, μὴ διαβόλους, νηφαλίους, πιστὰς ἐν πᾶσιν.Read the interlinear

• In the same wayὡσαύτωςhōsautōs · likewiseG5615
• womenγυνήgunē · woman: wifeG1135
• dignifiedσεμνόςsemnos · nobleG4586
• notμήmē · notG3361
• slanderersδιάβολοςdiabolos · devilish/the DevilG1228
• temperateνηφαλέοςnēphaleos nēphalios · soberG3524
• faithfulπιστόςpistos · faithfulG4103
• inἐνen · in/on/amongG1722
• all thingsπᾶςpas · allG3956

Cross-references for 1 Timothy 3:11

• Leviticus 21:7A priest must not marry a woman defiled by prostitution or divorced by her husband, for the priest is holy to his God.
• Ezekiel 44:22And they shall not marry a widow or a divorced woman, but must marry a virgin of the descendants of the house of Israel, or a widow of a priest.
• Luke 1:5In the time of Herod king of Judea there was a priest named Zechariah, who belonged to the priestly division of Abijah, and whose wife Elizabeth was a descendant of Aaron.
• 1 Timothy 3:4An overseer must manage his own household well and keep his children under control, with complete dignity.
• Psalms 15:3who has no slander on his tongue, who does no harm to his neighbor, who casts no scorn on his friend,
• Psalms 50:20You sit and malign your brother; you slander your own mother’s son.
• Psalms 101:5Whoever slanders his neighbor in secret, I will put to silence; the one with haughty eyes and a proud heart, I will not endure.
• Proverbs 10:18The one who conceals hatred has lying lips, and whoever spreads slander is a fool.
• Proverbs 25:13Like the cold of snow in the time of harvest is a trustworthy messenger to those who send him; he refreshes the soul of his masters.
• Jeremiah 9:4“Let everyone guard against his neighbor; do not trust any brother, for every brother deals craftily, and every friend spreads slander.
• Matthew 4:1Then Jesus was led by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil.
• John 6:70Jesus answered them, “Have I not chosen you, the Twelve? Yet one of you is a devil!”
• 2 Timothy 3:3unloving, unforgiving, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, without love of good,
• Revelation 12:9And the great dragon was hurled down—that ancient serpent called the devil and Satan, the deceiver of the whole world. He was hurled to the earth, and his angels with him.
• 1 Timothy 3:2An overseer, then, must be above reproach, the husband of but one wife, temperate, self-controlled, respectable, hospitable, able to teach,
• 1 Thessalonians 5:6So then, let us not sleep as the others do, but let us remain awake and sober.

Commentaries on 1 Timothy 3:11

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 11Even so must their wives be grave - I believe the apostle does not mean here the wives either of the bishops or deacons in particular, but the Christian women in general. The original is simply: ̔ · Let the women likewise be grave. Whatever is spoken here becomes women in general; but if the apostle had those termed deaconesses in his eye, which is quite possible, the words are peculiarly suitable to them. That there was such an order in the apostolic and…Read the comment
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 11Even so must their wives be grave - Chrysostom, Theophylact, Grotius, Bloomfield, and many others, suppose that by the word “wives,” here, ( ͂ gunaikas), the apostle means “deaconesses.” Clarke supposes that it refers to women in general. The reason assigned for supposing that it does not refer to the wives of deacons, as such, is, that nothing is said of the qualifications of the wives of bishops - a matter of as much importance as that of the character…Read the comment
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 8-13Verses 8-13 The deacons were at first appointed to distribute the charity of the church, and to manage its concerns, yet pastors and evangelists were among them. The deacons had a great trust reposed in them. They must be grave, serious, prudent men. It is not fit that public trusts should be lodged in the hands of any, till they are found fit for the business with which they are to be trusted. All who are related to ministers, must take great care to…Read the comment
• Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 11the women (or the women deacons, or their wives): The Greek word can mean women or wives. Supporting the interpretation of their wives, 3:8–13 discusses male deacons. Switching to "women deacons" here would change the context. However, there might have been women deacons in the early church (see Romans 16:1). If so, this verse might parallel 1 Timothy 3:8.Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 1111. their wives--rather, "the women," that is, the deaconesses. For there is no reason that special rules should be laid down as to the wives of the deacons, and not also as to the wives of the bishops or overseers. Moreover, if the wives of the deacons were meant, there seems no reason for the omission of "their" (not in the Greek). Also the Greek for "even so" (the same as for "likewise," 1Ti 3:8, and "in like manner," 1Ti 2:9), denotes a transition to…Read the comment

Topics related to 1 Timothy 3:11

• Church
• Commandments
• Deacon
• Minister, Christian
• Slander
• Sobriety
• Wife
• Women

In the dictionaries

• Bishop
• Blameless
• Controversy
• Covetous
• Deacon
• Deaconess
• Degree
• Hospitality
• Mystery
• Novice

Commentaries on 1 Timothy 3

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
• Tyndale Open Study Notes
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
• Calvin’s Commentaries
• John Wesley’s Notes
• Illustrated New Testament
• Burkitt’s Expository Notes
• Darby Translation Notes
• Family Bible Notes
• Geneva Bible Translation Notes
• Kingcomments
• Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary
• Matthew Henry’s Modern English Commentary
• The People’s New Testament
• Robertson’s Word Pictures
• Scofield Reference Notes, 1917 Edition
• Original Douay–Rheims Annotations
• Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
• EGW Writings